September 4, 2006
Too Far
I am a big fan of Google, but I think this recent news about their research for audio eavesdropping software is going too far.
Google is an innovative company that has developed a lot of the great tools on the Web these days (Blogger, of course; also Google Reader, Google Earth and their original search engine, too). They generally seem to be devoted to making information more accessible for the benefit of everyone, but this latest step raises at least one eyebrow for me.
Introducing this technology without, at the minimum, allowing anyone to opt out of it would be a major violation of privacy, in my opinion. I get that Google, and other companies like it, needs to continue to develop revenue streams and alternatives to conventional advertising. I fully accept that reality in return for the use of their technology, but there is a limit to what is acceptable. Even developing this technology and opening the door for another company or even individuals to use it for ill purposes is a concern for me.
Let’s hear an explanation, Google, because I think one is in order.
![Rob Robinson](http://thinktrain.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/Rob.jpg")
